Web Based Learning ToolsGrades K -12

Webpage for WBLTs

faculty.uoit.ca/kay/te2009/wblt Canada

Robin Kay Associate Professor, Faculty of Education

Homepage: faculty.uoit.ca/kay

Background• Faculty of Education • Math & Computer Science• UOIT – 5 years• Taught High School 8 years• Community College for 5 years

And you …

What grade do you teach?

a) K-3

b) 4-6

c) 7-8

d) 9-12

What subject do you teach?

a) Math

b) English

c) Science

d) Social Science

e) Languages

f) Other

Please describe your computer confidence level?

a) Not at all confident

b) Somewhat confident

c) Confident

d) Very Confident

Have you used Web-Based Learning Tools (WBLTs)?

a) Student-Led

b) Teacher-Led

c) I don’t know

d) No

Agenda

• What is a WBLT?

• Why use WBLTs?

• Choosing WBLTs?

• Using WBLTs?

• What the research says?

Web Based Learning Tools

• Explore Learning Add & Subtract Integers

• BBC French – Listening Foundation

• Alberta Online Triangles

• Illuminations Map of Canada

• Mini Clips **

Converting percent to decimal

Barriers to Using Technology?

a) Accessibility

b) Training

c) Time

d) Equipment

e) Money

f) Quality of software

Why use a WBLT?• Easy access

• Small web based program

• Easy to learn and use

• Web-Based

• Typically Free

• Motivating

• Interactive

• Graphics & Animation

Potential Barriersa) Accessibility

b) Training

c) Time

d) Equipment

e) Money

f) Quality of software

Choosing a WBLT

• What is a good WBLT?

• Where do you find WBLTs?

Features of Good WBLTs

1.Loads quickly

2.Easy to learn and use (Bad vs. Good)

3.Navigation easy (Bad vs. Good)

4.Limited writing (Bad vs. Good)

5.Theme & quality (Bad vs. Good)

6.Graphics or animations (Bad vs. Good)

7.Support materials (Bad vs. Good)

8. Interactivity (Low vs. High)

9.Accuracy

10. WBLT adds value

Where do you find WBLTs?

• Math• Explore Learning (K-12)• Learn Alberta (K-12)• NCTM Illuminations (K-12)• BBC (K-10)• UOIT (7-10)• Interactivate (3-12)

• Science• Explore Learning (K-12)• Learn Alberta (K-12)• BBC (K-10)• UOIT (7-10)

• English• Learn Alberta (K-12)• BBC

• Multiple Subjects• Learn Alberta (K-12)• BBC • Interactive Websites• EDNA

Using a WBLT

• Does it work?

• Timing – How long?

• Introduction to WBLT

• Individuals vs. Pairs vs. Class

• How will you use it?

• Introduce topic

• Follow-up activity

• Explore concept

• Time reminders

• Circulation

• Guiding Questions

• Consolidation

What does the research say?

•1100 middle & high school students

•64 classrooms

•30 - 40 WBLTs

Student Computer Skills?

ItemItem % Agree% Agree

I am good at working with computers.

81%

I am comfortable with computers.

85%

I like working with computers at school.

76%

WBLT Quality?

ItemItem % Agree % Agree

1. The WBLT was well organized.

68%

2. The WBLT was easy to use.

77%

3. The instructions in the WBLT were easy to follow.

74%

Learning Performance?

Target GroupTarget Group ChangeChange

Middle School + 40%

High School + 30%

Math – High School + 8%

Science – High School + 40%

Strategies?

Effective

• Introduce a new concept before a formal lesson

• Motivate students

• Teach a new concept

• Guiding set of questions

No So Effective

• Use after formal lesson

• Open ended-exploration

What the Students Said?

Easy to Use• It was nice and simple• The instructions were easy to follow

Visual Aspects• I liked the graphics & animations• This way it's easier for me to learn because I am a visual learner

Using Technology – Something New• I liked the idea of the WBLT, and I think learning through technology is useful • I liked how it was on the computer, because it grabs my attention better than the teacher or a book• It beats writing a page of notes

Interactive• I liked how it was interactive

Motivating• I like the fact it put some fun into learning

What the teachers said?

Overall, very satisfied but …• It took a long time to find good WBLTs• It took a long time to prepare a lesson plan• It wasn’t easy getting a computer lab (3-4 weeks)

What Next?

• Handout

• WBLT Web Page

• Online presentations

• Handouts

• Links to good WBLTs

•Sign up for WBLT training

• Research project (next year)

• Free training (1.5 days)

• Survey teachers & students

Contact Information

Robin Kay

Email

robin.kay@uoit.ca

Web Page

faculty.uoit.ca/kay

Would you use WBLTs in your class?

a) No

b) Maybe

c) Yes

Difficult to Learn

Easy to Learn

Awkward to Navigate

Good to Navigate

Too Much Writing

Appropriate Writing

Boring Theme

Interesting Theme

Limited Graphics

Helpful Graphics

Limited Resource

Better Resource

Limited Interaction

Better Interaction